We are often blind to our own environment because of our assumptions, framed by media, insular thinking and our own prejudices. Smart City Consulting's blog – named one of the most intriguing in the U.S. by Pew Partnership for Civic Change – hopes to show how Memphis really is and could be through alternative questions, fresh approaches and new ideas. We hope to open your eyes - and your ears - to a new way of thinking about Memphis. Send ideas and emails to tjones@smartcityconsulting.com.

Friday, May 22, 2009

THis Week On Smart City: Arts, Culture And Buzz

This week on Smart City: arts, culture and buzz. Does your city have it? How can you tell? And if you don't have it, where do you get it?

First we'll speak with Rick DeVos of ArtPrize - an "open art" contest in Grand Rapids that will offer the world's largest prize ever: $250,000. The contest, which will transform the city's downtown into a virtual art gallery, is open to any artist, established or emerging, and will be voted on by ArtPrize audiences via the web and text messaging. We'll talk to Rick about what kind of mark he expects ArtPrize to make on his hometown and the world.

And we'll explore the nature of that elusive thing called buzz.

We'll speak with Elizabeth Currid and Sarah Williams, two researchers who have studied buzz and identified the hottest spots in L.A. and New York. They'll join us to explain their unusual approach, and they'll tell us how to quantify cool and understand how a creative cultural scene really works.

Smart City is a syndicated, weekly hour-long public radio talk show that takes an in-depth look at urban life: the people, places, ideas and trends that affect us all. Host Carol Coletta, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, talks with national and international public policy experts, economists, business leaders, artists, developers, planners and others on the pulse of city life for a penetrating discussion on urban issues.

Smart City is broadcast at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sundays on WKNO-FM, but it is also webcast and podcast so you can listen to it anytime you like. For the webcast, times for the broadcast in other cities and to sign up for the podcast, visit our website.